As this week’s notes, I picked up the news of recommendation to the Japanese Government from UN’s Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. They totally demanded to abolish special education for children with disabilities and carry inclusive education out. I was surprised to know that because I thought some special treatments are needed for children. Efforts to eliminate the denial of admission due to lack of facilities to accommodate handicapped children will be necessary as recommended.
In this semester, my main research question is “Is inclusive education effective?” especially at elementary school (and at pre-school if possible) and I will try to ensure that research perspectives are not biased toward only the majority. I also want to focus on what the toujisha actually do and what they feel is necessary.
I was interested to hear the teacher talk a bit about stigma and racialization in class today. Yuika's research was surprised to find that among foreign residents in certain areas of Japan, more people speak やさしい日本語 than speak English. I felt that it is important to make the local readers of the community know やさしい日本語, and I think it is a strength that can be utilized not only for foreigners but also for the elderly and handicapped people.
Today, I talked with Toshi first, he told me that 障害者雇用 can change whole environment for workers because it will make good working place which they have many options as they like for all other people, too. But both employees and employers have a few ideas to do that in real, I think that they will need more dialog.
Next, I talked with Himika, she mentioned “就活セクシズム”, it was so interesting viewpoint which I have never even try to wonder. It is very serious issue but once 就活生 ignore this custom, it means she/he will not be accepted by the company, so they cannot protest this.
Both of them mentioned working places’ diversity, and I thought for adults, even though they spend many times and important place there, but we must change the situation that people with disabilities find it difficult to work, and that it is an uncomfortable place for them to restrict their self-expression.
As for my this week’s research, I try to get some toujisha’s voice like how are they feeling about inclusive education?, or what is comfortable for them? like that. But I cannot find such information and I used the toujisha’s parents and school’s case in substitution. I need to research more specifically about the “The Success School” and what was good or changed from original inclusive education.
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Today’s class, both of the presentation was interesting for me because they had not only the result of research, but also contained deep consideration.
As for Shiori’s presentation, the relationship between LGBT and SNS, she claimed how important SNS for LGBT community and how they use SNS to express themselves as ibasho.
People can easily be influencer when they use SNS. However, that means they are at risks of getting negative feedback from others. I thought that some people would rather not express themselves and stay inside than take that risk. On the other hand, it was interesting that Facebook made a guideline for LGBT community. I felt it is effective for them. For example, to mute negative comments about sexuality and close friends sorting feature to protect your self-esteem, including limiting the scope of public access.
I had never heard of ALLY before. I will try to refer “Do you have partner?” or something instead of “Do you have girlfriend/ boyfriend?” I feel happy to help create an environment that makes it easier for LGBT people to come out for themselves.
I felt that Jain's opinion that it is not necessary for everyone to know about it, but that it is necessary for them not to dislike it, made the point.
As for Chisaki’s presentation, I realized how important ibasho for children especially in poor. She mentioned that子ども食堂 strengthens the community's ability to help everyone, I thought this is interesting point I’ve never found. I just have been thinking only of the positive impact that 子ども食堂has on children. 学童 provides a place for children who are left alone at home during long vacations, and also helps children learn social skills by helping each other. I have found that we can provide a place for children in a variety of ways during a period of growth not only of the body but also of the humanity.
It was easy to understand the process that the reason why poor households tend to have children with low education is due to environmental factors such as parents cannot see their children about their studies, and they cannot study with relaxed. I felt that it is a serious problem that creates a disparity in terms of children's minds.
I thought it may all be due to the fact that Japan's structure has a lot of relative poverty, not absolute poverty. Therefore, we must fundamentally change society to reduce relative poverty.
Both presentation told that how ibasho is important for minority people. My research topic, "Education for Children with Disabilities," was based on the premise that they all have 居場所, a school. Thus, the need for ibasho was a new perspective and made me think about it.
Toshi, Yuika, and Jain gave presentations today. I found the consideration for minorities like people with disabilities and foreign people are also valuable for other majorities. This is a point I often notice lately after listening to everyone's presentations.
As for Toshi’s presentation, It was easy to understand the process of thinking, such as the process of generating questions and the next investigation derived from them.
I was a little disappointed to hear the point that companies follow the legally required employment rate of persons with disabilities only for the sake of receiving grants. However, I hope that by starting with policies and taking action, awareness of the employment of people with disabilities will spread little by little. I felt that the reason why only simple work is given to disabled workers is because there is a lack of discussion between employers and employees about what they can do and what they are not good at. On the other hand, バターのいとこ’s approach is innovative and there is room for many companies to learn from it.
I also think that the content could be conveyed more clearly if the slides were made easier to read.
Yuika talked about やさしい日本語, which was created based on the fact that m any foreigners died in the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. From a foreigner's point of view, it made sense to me that Japanese in offices, on the phone, and at the hospital would be difficult to use if I replaced it with English for myself. For native Japanese speakers, it is important for everyone to know about it itself, because it is something they can work on right away just by learning about the existence of やさしい日本語. As a specific approach to this specific native speaker, やさしい日本語 rap was very interesting. Japanese rap is becoming popular among the younger generation in Japan these days, and the more this spreads, the more people will learn about it.
Jain’s Her presentation was interesting because the topic setting itself had a new angle. Once again, knowing the reality that one out of every 15 people is handicapped, I realized that it is not easy to meet handicapped people and that there must be many points where consideration is inadequate. It was the first time I learned that barrier-free cabs are expensive, and I had not realized the barriers that existed.
I thought her presentation was very well organized with slides that were very easy to read.
As for Himika’s presentation, she talked about gender and clothing. It was interesting for me because she referred some specific case like gender in 就活, パンプス or something. I thought it would be effective to make the gender field optional for those who have difficulty in fully recognizing their gender in the questioning. I also thought that making uniforms with gender-free specifications would make it easier for many other people to work, not only for LGBT people but also for many others, since they would be less required to be so-called masculine or feminine. For women, it is unnatural to be forced to wear makeup once they start working, even though many school rules restrict makeup until high school. I have never heard about the #kutoo movement, but I thought it’s really good one for all people’s health and mind, especially for women forcing to wear the shoes with heels even today.
Mina-san said following the way of others may be the proof for me following the directions faithfully. I thought that’s truly right and that’s because majority of the 就活生 cannot stand against it. I felt that Japan is a society where synchronicity is required, so identity is lost in companies, schools, etc.
As for my presentation improvement, I need the 当事者’s voice for inclusive education and how Japan is heading for full inclusive. In addition, I want to have the specific case of inclusive education in Japan. I thought the realistic one is of course full inclusion, but the realistic one is partial inclusion, so I’ll contain this way of view into my presentation.